Eurovision 2018: How much does UK pay to enter? How much does it cost?

Eurovision 2018: How much does UK pay to enter? How much does it cost?

EUROVISION 2018 is finally over and the UK came in third to last, despite singer SuRie’s brave performance during a stage invasion. Many license fee paying Britons are now questioning the costs of entering the Eurovision Song Contest every year.

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According to Matt Kilcoyne, of the Adam Smith Institute, the BBC is estimated to spend anywhere between £400,000 to £700,000 per one hour of “Premium Entertainment” – such as one-off special broadcasts on BBC One outlined in the commissioned tariffs structure.

But Eurovision is not a one day event and last night’s Grand Finale went on for four hours.

Mr Kilcoyne said: “As any die-hard fan will let you know it’s many months in the making and the actual contest is a week-long phenomenon, with two semi-finals broadcast live and then the Saturday final.

“The semis last around two to three hours and the final has been known to go beyond four.

“In the UK we also have the BBC’s ‘You Decide’, run live on BBC One and BBC Radio Two.

GETTY

Eurovision 2018: UK entry SuRie scored third to last among 26 competitors

“So we’re looking at a potential spend of between £4m and £7.5m on top of the payments made to the EBU.”

In 2009 the BBC made Eurovision entry payments to the tune of £279,805, followed by £283,190 in 2010 and another £310,000 in 2012.

The staggering entry fee gives the BBC the right to broadcast the programme but it also lets the UK skip straight ahead into the finals, which Britain has not won since 1997.

Eurovision: 10 years of UK acts

UK Eurovision acts for the last 10 years.

Mr Kilcoyne said: “I’m not going to say whether Eurovision is worth it but we should know how much our publicly funded broadcasters spend on events in our name and perhaps we should be more open to private broadcasters taking up the reins.

We’re looking at a potential spend of between £4m and £7.5m

Matt Kilcoyne, Adam Smith Institute

The EBU itself has boldly stressed the need for the public to carry the brunt of Eurovision’s costs in accordance with European Union regulations.

An official EBU document outlining the funding of public service broadcasting, reads: “There is a consensus in Europe that public service broadcasting needs an appropriate, secure funding framework, and that public funding is an integral part of public service broadcasting systems.

“This has been confirmed by political and legal texts from both the Council of Europe and the European Union.”

Many have now questioned whether it is right for the license fee payers to keep funding the show.

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Eurovision 2018: This year's song contest was won by Israeli singer Netta

Scores of Britons took to social media since last night to express their discontent.

Dave Hart, @_london_lion, tweeted: “We turned Eurovision off.

“It’s descended to the lowest depths and the BBC puts in millions of pounds, so it’s time to cut and run.

“Time for a Eurovision Brexit.”

Another person, Billericay Town FC Unofficial, wrote: “I forgot Eurovision was on last night which saved me from accidentally watching it.

“It’s a pathetic waste of time and money. Why do the BBC insist on wasting our TV licence taxes in broadcasting it?

“Once Brexit kicks in Eurovision needs to be abandoned.”

Ian King, @naggerpagger, also said: “So Eurovision is over for another year. Will we get to the final nextyear ?

“Of course we will, as we don’t have to qualify as they need our money. We are just a cash cow to them.